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Press releases, March 22, 2001
Pioneering Research on Floods, Droughts and River Basin Organization Wins Stockholm Water Prize for Venezuelan Hydrologist
 The winner of the 2002 Stockholm Water Prize is the Venezuelan hydrologist Professor Ignacio Rodríguez-Iturbe of Princeton University, USA. He is being honored for his
significant scientific contributions to the understanding of the interaction
between climate, soil and vegetation structures, surface water, floods and
droughts.
Professor Rodríguez-Iturbe, 60, is one of the world's leading hydrologists.
He was born in Venezuela, where he also has worked for many years, and is
a citizen of both Venezuela and the United States. He is the first South
American to receive the Stockholm Water Prize.
 Professor
Rodríguez-Iturbe's scientific contributions have had important theoretical
and practical meaning for hydrology's development as an Earth Science. They
have also increased understanding of the planet's climatic system, where
water's circulation place a decisive role.
Thus, the Nominating Committee in its motivation wrote:
"Professor Ignacio Rodríguez-Iturbe is awarded the 2002 Stockholm Water
Prize for lasting contributions to surface hydrology. With scholarship,
creativity, enthusiasm and inspiration he has been in the forefront of the
scientific evolution that placed hydrology in the fellowship of Earth Sciences."
Water is the Link
Professor Rodríguez-Iturbe's research has led to greater understanding of
meteorological and hydrological events like extreme floods and droughts,
which can cause human suffering, environmental damage and economic loss.
During the 1970s Professor Rodríguez-Iturbe developed a mathematical model
for long-term extremes such as these. These formulations have been used
extensively throughout the world, for example, in forecasting river flows
and variations in water levels.
Evaluation of Hydrologic Data
In addition, Professor Rodríguez-Iturbe contributed to the development of
methods to quantify the accuracy and value of hydrologic data. This concept
is now adopted in hydrological and meteorological services. It has been
used in the USA, Canada and Great Britain to evaluate the utility of their
data collection systems.
 Risk
Analysis
In the mid 1970s, Professor Rodríguez-Iturbe introduced "Bayesian approaches"
(a mathematical tool to combine information from many different sources
which have varying degrees of accuracy) to improve different models for
river flows and to predict the likelihood of extreme hydrological events.
This type of approach is now adopted in many Earth Sciences, for example,
as a way of combining outputs from different weather or climate models or
as a way of integrating models and opinions for environmental risk assessment.
Theoretical Development
In the 1980s and through the 1990s, Professor Rodríguez-Iturbe and his collaborators
proceeded to reformulate the theories on the formation of river basins in
a geomorphologic respect (geomorphology is the science of Earth's surface
terrains). Through work that showed that nature transports water and sediment
out of the watershed in the most energy efficient way possible, he was able
to establish equations that, once solved, yielded the drainage pattern that
nature will produce under different climatic and geologic conditions.
Professor Rodríguez-Iturbe also spearheaded and formulated the mathematical
representation of rainfall as random, active point processes. Because of
this it is now possible to simulate rainfall patterns in time and space
over many years, creating sequences that mimic how nature may behave in
the future and use the results in engineering design or analysis.
Research in Eco-hydrology
Most recently, Professor Rodríguez-Iturbe has defined the concept of eco-hydrology
to explain the interaction of the atmosphere and the hydrology with plants
and soil in a natural system. In-depth studies within this new field now
constitute a new scientific front within hydrology and ecology, and the
results of research in this area will be important for the understanding
of global carbon cycles and climate variation, for example.
An Author, Teacher and Bridge-builder
Professor Rodríguez-Iturbe's passion for teaching is well-known, as is his
dynamic set to solve problems. He is also a distinguished lecturer and author
of many scientific articles and several books. His ability to build bridges
between different scientific disciplines is well-known and he has in a meritorious
way participated in creating understanding and cooperation among and between
scientists and technicians.
Professor Rodríguez-Iturbe was born in Caracas, Venezuela, is married to
Mercedes and has five children.
The Stockholm Water Prize
The $150,000 Stockholm Water Prize is presented by the Stockholm Water Foundation
for the 12th time. It is awarded to an individual, institution, organization
or company that has made the most substantial contribution to the preservation,
enhancement and availability of the world's water resources. The Prize recognizes
outstanding research, action or education that increases knowledge of water
as a resource and protects its usability for all life.
His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is the patron of the Stockholm
Water Prize and will present the award to Professor Rodríguez-Iturbe at
a ceremony in the Stockholm City Hall on August 15, 2002, during the annual
World Water Week in Stockholm.
Previous Stockholm Water Prize winners have represented many water-related
disciplines - from technology and education to engineering and research
- and have come from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, India, Israel,
Japan, South Africa, Switzerland and the United States.
Stockholm Water Prize Founders include Anglian Water, Aragon Fondkommission,
Bacardi Limited, Compaq, DuPont, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, General Motors,
Grundfos, ITT Flygt, Kemira Kemwater, KPMG, Ragn-Sells, Scandinavian Airlines
(SAS), SNECMA, Stockholm Water Festival, Swedish State Railways (SJ), Uponor
Group, and Water Environment Federation.
For more information, contact David Trouba, SIWI +46-8-522 139 89, dave.trouba@siwi.org
eller Stephanie Blenckner, SIWI +46-8-522 139 72, stephanie.blenckner@siwi.org
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